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Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bengaluru's auto drivers fined for fleecing, other violations
Bengaluru: Close on the heels of the ban on bike-taxi services, Bengalureans complained about rising incidents of "autocracy" with several incidents of autorickshaw drivers fleecing the commuters with faulty meters. Cracking the whip on such errant drivers, Bengaluru Traffic Police booked over 1,000 cases Saturday and collected Rs 4.9 lakh in fine from autorickshaws and other traffic violators in the west division. Based on the commuters' ordeal, TOI published a report on traffic violations in its June 20 edition. During the day-long drive against errant autorickshaw drivers in and around Majestic, Ananda Rao Circle, KSR Railway Station, MG Road, Church Street, Cubbon Park and surrounding areas, 180 cases were booked under various sections of the Indian Motor Vehicles (IMV) Act and fine worth Rs 89,700 was collected. The highest number of cases (84) was booked against auto drivers not wearing the khaki uniform, resulting in a fine of Rs 42,000. Similarly, 52 cases were booked against those demanding excess fare and Rs 21,600 was collected in fine. As many as 44 auto drivers were booked for refusing to go for hire and a fine worth Rs 21,600 was collected, according to BTP officials. Anitha B Haddannavar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) West told STOI that there were several complaints against autorickshaw drivers, particularly about demanding excess fares and refusing to go for hire. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Transform Your Home with Expert Home Improvement Services. Home Fix Daily Learn More Undo "Since the ban on bike taxis, there has been a rapid surge in the demand for autorickshaws in Bengaluru. But a few auto drivers are taking advantage of this situation. Hence, we cracked down on them during the special drive in areas where there is large footfall of passengers," she explained. Apart from this, the BTP officials have also booked 216 cases of violation of parking rules and collected Rs 87,500 in fine from the offenders. Traffic cops in plainclothes hired autorickshaws to various destinations of the city from the Majestic area and the drivers were caught demanding money above the meter charge. "An auto ride between Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station in Majestic and Freedom Park would normally cost Rs 50. But Saturday, auto drivers charged Rs 75-100. Similarly, the RTO officials must also verify the authenticity of the meters in all autorickshaws," explained a senior traffic police inspector.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bad roads & traffic leading to increase in accidents, says school bus drivers in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Last week, a school bus overturned at Navile Layout near Madavara, off the Bengaluru-Pune highway, injuring 30 children on board and sending shock waves among the parent community. While this was one of the more serious accidents, minor ones involving school buses and traffic violations by drivers have become common in Bengaluru. According to Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) data, three such fatal accidents have been reported so far this year, with three deaths (none of them students). Additionally, eight non-fatal accidents involving school buses have occurred, causing seven injuries. In 2023 and 2024, three fatal accidents each took place in the city, with three and four deaths, respectively. During these two years, there were 21 and 19 non-fatal incidents, respectively, leaving almost 50 — including 17 kids — injured. Traffic police have been conducting special drives to crack down on drunken driving. In 2023, only eight cases were registered, but in 2024, the number rose to 139. In 2025, 67 cases have been booked so far. The latest was a special drive on Monday, wherein 4,559 school vehicle drivers were checked for alcohol consumption, with 58 testing positive. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "Nobody wants to cause an accident. But if accidents are happening, all I can blame are the very bad roads of the city," said Manoj Padikkal, chairman of the school transport wing of the Bus and Cars Operators' Confederation. "Waterlogging is happening thanks to the rain after schools reopened. There are no roads without potholes. It's not the drivers' fault that accidents are happening." "There's traffic congestion on one side. With this, most of the buses can't reach various points at the designated times. Then, parents start calling. Drivers try to rush to be punctual because of the pressure. The vehicles are getting better as the years go by, with more safety features being added. But the road infrastructure is terrible," he added. Shashi Kumar D, secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka, said: "School buses aren't treated as a priority in India. In other countries, they are treated with importance. Here, they are bullied, honked at, and have to deal with traffic jams where other drivers have no patience." "We've been addressing the transportation staff and have been calling on schools to train them. But the ground realities are different," he conceded. Why they're in a hurry "Like other motorists, school bus and van drivers often violate traffic rules. The violations include speeding, rash and negligent driving to take children to school on time and drop them back home. They're also found using mobile phones while driving. Sometimes, traffic police aren't in a position to stop the school bus or van during visible violations, as it will affect kids, delaying their arrival for classes," said a traffic cop. "They (drivers) should be sensitised on the safety of children. Every time we conduct a special drive for drunk driving, we find many drivers inebriated while taking children to school in the early hours... this is extremely dangerous," he added. Another senior officer said it's heartening that no child has died in accidents in the past three years. "To prevent violations and accidents, the school managements, parents, transport department, and drivers need to work together. We're visiting schools and sensitising drivers, management, and children as a preventive measure. We'll work with the transport department to enhance the safety of schoolchildren. Henceforth, we'll work closely with the education department as well." "We're seizing the driving licence of drivers caught drunk driving. Notices are being served on school managements, and such driving licences are sent to the RTO for cancellation," the officer added.
AU Financial Review
5 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Brewer to digital leader: Lion reinvents itself in the cloud era
'Younger consumers are moving away from beer – our core category – and turning to spirits, premixes and ready-to-drink options. It's a cultural shift, and we need to adapt how we operate, go to market and connect with the next generation of consumers.' Consumer preferences aren't the only challenge. With the market fragmenting and competition intensifying, Lion needed greater agility than its legacy systems could provide to keep up with the current pace of business. 'Our previous technology setup just wasn't built for the speed or complexity the business faces today,' says Kalyanasundaram. 'We needed to reduce friction, improve decision-making and simplify the tools our teams rely on to move faster.' With RISE with SAP, Lion was able to fast-track its business modernisation using the guided transformation journey tailored for SAP ERP customers. Supported by proven methodologies, advanced tools and expert guidance, Lion was rapidly able to start unlocking the full potential of SAP's Business Technology Platform. Additionally, by moving its on-premises ERP to the firm's private cloud, Lion also reduced infrastructure costs and freed up internal teams to focus on value-added work. 'SAP handles the heavy lifting – infrastructure, upgrades – and we focus on delivering outcomes,' Kalyanasundaram says. 'Where speed, seasonality and supply chain precision really matter, by adopting these clean core principles, we can basically standardise our processes and use as much of the stock standard SAP product as possible. 'It's helped us create a modular architecture that's ready for innovation,' he adds. 'We can now deploy business changes in days or weeks, not months.' Those changes have already had a measurable impact. All digital channels combined account for 80-85 per cent of overall customer orders. Lion's customer portal, which sits on SAP commerce cloud, now handles majority of customer orders with the other majority via EDI ordering which from major national accounts like Coles and Woolworths. Customers can self-serve for orders, invoices and returns, giving Lion a more scalable, responsive digital storefront. 'This isn't about technology for its own sake,' says Kalyanasundaram. 'It's about creating differentiated customer experiences that genuinely improve how we do business and more importantly, become easier to do business with.' Behind the scenes, SAP's Business Technology Platform (BTP) and AI-powered tools are delivering real-time insights, enabling faster planning and empowering staff to make decisions without waiting for reports. 'Order-to-cash cycle times have improved, inventory and pricing visibility is sharper, and our field sales teams are more effective,' says Kalyanasundaram. But the technology shift has also had a deeper cultural impact. 'One of the biggest outcomes for me personally is how this transformation has enabled true collaboration between business and technology,' says Kalyanasundaram. 'It's a shared transformation — not a tech project. That co-creation is what's driven real value.' To support governance and long-term visibility, Lion has implemented SAP Signavio and LeanIX. These tools offer process intelligence and architecture mapping, allowing the company to continuously assess how it operates and where it can innovate not just from a technology perspective but from a business perspective as well. 'Signavio lets us review and re-engineer core processes. LeanIX gives us a living map of our enterprise architecture so we can make smarter investment decisions,' says Kalyanasundaram. Analysts say Lion's approach reflects broader momentum across the industry. 'AI is changing the ERP landscape by providing more insight and automation to workflows, business processes and transactions, and ultimately improving companies' decision velocity for better customer outcomes,' according to an IDC MarketScape vendor assessment. Lion is also progressing with other core system upgrades as part of its on-prem-to-cloud transformation. Key projects underway include the migration of its CRM to SAP's Customer Experience (C4C) platform and the replacement of its manufacturing excellence system. These efforts are designed to build on the gains already achieved and ensure Lion's operational backbone is fully aligned with its cloud-first strategy and leverage upcoming innovations in Generative and Agentic AI. Kalyanasundaram's advice for others embarking on a similar path? 'Do it sooner rather than later – but do it strategically. This isn't just about upgrading systems. It's about unlocking growth,' he says. 'You need leadership alignment, cultural readiness and to build your transformation with your best people, not around them.' With the transformation well underway, Lion now stands better equipped to meet the shifting expectations of both customers and consumers. Says Kalyanasundaram, 'We've simplified, we've scaled, and now we're positioned to innovate with speed and confidence - leveraging SAP's continuous platform evolution to stay ahead of emerging technologies and industry shifts.'
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Glasgow Times
BTP issue update as crews swarm Glasgow train station
Emergency services rushed to Pollokshaws West station on Saturday, June 14, at around 11.30pm after reports of an "incident." British Transport Police (BTP) have now confirmed a man was found injured on the tracks and was taken to hospital for treatment. The incident is not being treated as suspicious. READ MORE: Emergency services rush to Pollokshaws West train station The Glasgow Times previously reported that ScotRail issued a statement on social media following the incident: "The emergency services are dealing with an incident in the Pollokshaws West area, and unfortunately, that means we can't run trains as the line is currently blocked." "We're working closely with the emergency services to get the line reopened. "Two buses have been requested, but nothing confirmed." A later update from the train operator stated: "X1 Arays Bus will be on site at Glasgow Central for 12.45am, June 15. "Please check your journey on our app/website or on JourneyCheck for live updates." READ MORE: 'Human remains' found on popular beach as investigation launched A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to Pollokshaws West Railway Station at around 11.15pm on Saturday, June 14, following reports of a casualty on the tracks. "Paramedics also attended, and a man has been taken to hospital. "The incident is not being treated as suspicious."
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Sex crimes continue to rise on Scottish railway network
Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) - which provides a national rape crisis helpline and email support for anyone affected by sexual violence - has hit out after data released by Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice (SACA) revealed that the number of reported sex crimes at Scottish train stations is higher than it was years ago. (Image: Image: Newsquest) Having obtained figures via FOI requests, SACA revealed that in 2022, the British Transport Police (BTP) logged 60 sex crimes at Scottish stations, before the number rose to 95 in 2023. There was a slight drop in 2024, with a total of 87 crimes reported. Despite the small decrease, there has still been a 45% increase over the last few years. The data also revealed that since 2022, there have been nearly 250 reported sex crimes at train stations across Scotland. However, a large number of women do not report their experiences, as many feel scared or believe their report won't be taken seriously. (Image: Image of Sandy by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) Sandy Brindley, chief executive of RCS, said: 'Whether these figures reflect an increase in the number of sexual offences being reported, an increase in the volume of offences, or both, women and girls should be able to use public transport in Scotland without fear of sexual harassment or assault. That is currently not the reality." Brindley went on to say that the statistics also question where else these crimes are taking place, especially given the public nature of somewhere like a train station. She added: 'While this absolutely raises questions about what can be done to make our public transport networks safer, we should be thinking about these figures more widely. "If it's happening on public transport, it's happening elsewhere too, so the real question is: what can we do to tackle an alarming rise in sexual and misogynistic abuse?" (Image: Image: Newsquest) The BTP assured that one of their key priorities is tackling violence against women and girls, and said they are campaigning for more people to come forward to report sexual offences. A spokesperson for BTP: "Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority at British Transport Police, and there is zero tolerance for it on the railway network. "We know that these crimes commonly go underreported, which is why we relentlessly campaign to encourage witnesses and victims to report these offences to us. With this, we expect the number of reports to continue to rise. We view this increase as a positive sign that our efforts are paying off and that women and girls are feeling more confident to report all forms of sexual harassment and violence on the rail network to us." One of BTP's campaigns was put into force during Taylor Swift's run of shows in Edinburgh when officers handed out 'friendship bracelets' - popular in the Swift fandom - to passengers. The bracelets had the digits 61016 on them, which is the contact number to text service officers to report non-emergency crimes. In a bid to tackle the shocking rise, BTP went on to explain that they have patrols of uniformed and specially trained plain clothes officers across the railway day and night to both catch offenders and reassure passengers. There are also over 150,000 cameras across the railway network, which can provide BTP with clear, high-quality images. If you experience or witness sexual harassment or a sexual offence on the railway, you are urged to report it to BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040. In an emergency always dial 999. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or harassed, you are not alone. You can receive support from RCS by visiting or calling their helpline on 08088 01 03 02. Equally, you can contact SACA, which provides free expert advice on sexual abuse and rape compensation claims. They operate a 24-hour helpline which can be called on 0333 091 8597.
